Israel says pilot safe zones begin in southern Lebanon

July 20 (Reuters) - The Israeli military said a pilot programfor what it calls safe zones in southern Lebanon began on Monday in cooperation with the U.S. military and the Lebanese armed forces.

The pilot zones are designated areas in southern Lebanon where a U.S.-brokered framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon signed last month foresees Iran-backed Hezbollah's disarmament, the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the deployment of Lebanese troops. ...